Whenever I return home from a trip there’s nothing my body and soul craves more than a deep bowl of soup and the appropriate carbohydrate to accompany it. Kimchi stew with overside blocks of tofu, pho with rare slices of steak and overflowing bean sprouts, instant ramen topped with a gooey yolk egg… I love my Asian soups in all forms and levels of spiciness. However, since my move to Spain my yearnings are rarely satiated. In fact, I forgot about Asian food in general here. I could have written a break up letter, something in the lines of I’m just not in love with you anymore. Luckily, there are a few flings I can always depend on like Mosquito, Sichuan and Nanit but I have never been wowed by any Asian restaurant in Barcelona. I’m glad to say this depressing streak ended by a very special restaurant. May I present, Wagokoro!

The dinner menu

A delightful and exciting beginning. The octopus dabbed with umeboshi sauce was superb!

My boyfriend took me to celebrate my birthday and what a treat it was! We ordered the 7 course tasting menu and I was incredibly satisfied, impressed and wanting more after each plate. Wagokoro also offers something very special. It is the only establishment that offers kaiseki cuisine in Barcelona. Wikipedia explains,

Kaiseki (懐石) is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. The term also refers to the collection of skills and techniques that allow the preparation of such meals.

Black sesame pudding, wonderfully creamy with a flawless balance of deep nuttiness and sweetness in flavor. I could have eaten at least 2 more of this stellar dessert.

Sitting a chair away was an older Japanese couple. They too nodded and “oh”-ed in great satisfaction after each bite. They told us about the unique tradition of kaiseki and the rarity of it outside of Japan, yet alone in Europe.

I’m glad to say, I am in love again.

Wagokoro offers a menú del dia (daily special) from 16.90 euros with drink and desert included. If you live in Barcelona you can also sign up for their monthly Japanese cooking courses. There are only set tasting menus for dinner that range from 39.50 to 54.50 euros. Sake can be ordered in full or half bottles.

About the author

Jeno (Barcelona) is Korean by nature, a SoCal girl by birth and an experienced globetrotter by heart and practice. At 25, she moved to her beloved Barcelona where she’s currently kneading her way into becoming a world-class pastry chef. She loves dark chocolate with sea salt and is obsessed with the fine balance between textures and cakes. After 2 years of long Catalan lunches and dinners at 9pm, Jeno is quite the Spanish gastronome.